Thinkpads Forum

The T61 widescreen is nice, but IMO it's simply not as portable as the standard size T series. I am so close to buying a T61 14inch widescreen, but I am willing to wait if I can know for sure there will be a 14inch standard screen size T61 coming out soon.

I know many people have called in to Lenovo to ask about this, but responses vary. Can anyone say with any sort of confidence that a T61 standard size will come out in the near future? Or, the notebook industry (at least the thinkpad T series) is really shifting over to widescreen formats, and they're really killing off the standard screen format.

Has anyone seen a T61 14inch widescreen next to a 14inch standard size T Series (T60, T43, T42 etc)? How does it compare in terms of size? Any pictures to share?

thanks
hulao2

I've heard a lot of people say that there is going to be a standard sized 14 inch T61 coming. I am not sure about a standard sized 15 inch T61.

There are even pictures of this standard sized 14 inch T61 floating around the net.

Seems it is already out...

T61 14" 4:3 sxga+

hulao2 wrote:Has anyone seen a T61 14inch widescreen next to a 14inch standard size T Series (T60, T43, T42 etc)? How does it compare in terms of size? Any pictures to share?

From dimensions of T61 with 6-cell battery posted here and on www.notebookreview.com, T61 14.1" WS regained the depth of 14.1" T60 thanks to protrusion. Its height increased but slightly, and width gained another 2 cm, IIRC.

Very disappointing, IMHO, losing resolution and increasing size for "normal" battery performance.

What worries me even more is that everything apart from 14.1" has integrated graphics.

LBTRS wrote:Seems it is already out...

T61 14" 4:3 sxga+

Where did you purchase yours? Cause Lenovo's website certainly doesn't offer the standard size now.

hulao2 wrote:

LBTRS wrote:Seems it is already out...

T61 14" 4:3 sxga+

Where did you purchase yours? Cause Lenovo's website certainly doesn't offer the standard size now.

That is a link in my post, click on it...they seem to be selling it now.

hulao2 wrote:Can anyone say with any sort of confidence that a T61 standard size will come out in the near future?

check out the latest tabook. specifically, models 8895-2FU, 8895-2BU, and 8896-2BU. those are only xga, but i'm sure additional models will be introduced soon.

-bA

LBTRS wrote:

hulao2 wrote: Where did you purchase yours? Cause Lenovo's website certainly doesn't offer the standard size now.

That is a link in my post, click on it...they seem to be selling it now.

The link in your post just led to a blank page for me.

I've got a pending T61 order in today, but if a 4:3 is in the wings, I'll cancel it and re-order the right screen size.

-Dane

danejasper wrote:I've got a pending T61 order in today, but if a 4:3 is in the wings, I'll cancel it and re-order the right screen size.
-Dane

The link he provided you looks fishy (atleast to me) so I suggest you go to lenovo.com to check the availability of 14.1 standard model in future. Btw they're not available as of yet.

Notebook manufacturers across the globe have lost sight of 2-spindle portability. The machines on offer are obese tanks that I cannot lift and will not fit in my briefcase. Allright - I can lift one, but they won't go into my case. The only machine that will fit is a 14" 4:3 or smaller. But smaller is 1-spindle, and 1-spindle machines have a hell of time reading CD's

Nobody listens to workers anymore - just the school kids and gamers. I guess Daddy has all the money and doesn't know any better.
... JDH

danejasper wrote:

LBTRS wrote: That is a link in my post, click on it...they seem to be selling it now.

The link in your post just led to a blank page for me.

I've got a pending T61 order in today, but if a 4:3 is in the wings, I'll cancel it and re-order the right screen size.

-Dane

Yeah, I'm getting a blank page now also. It worked yesterday and looked like a legitimate Lenovo site. I don't know what it was about.

I feel for you JDH.

You mirror my sentiments exactly (well except the part of Daddy having all the money - I have precious little of that!).

I called lenovo today. btw, it takes forever to get through to their customer representative. I missed the times when IBM owned thinkpad. It was so much better.

I specifically asked the guy if there will be a standard aspect T61 coming out. His response was the notebook industry is shifting towards widescreen, so there is no plan to release a standard screen T61. I honestly don't know what to believe. Maybe they are just saying this to boost sale of their widescreen T61.

I am torn between getting the widescreen T61 now or waiting indefinitely for a standard T61. This sucks!!!

hulao2 wrote:His response was the notebook industry is shifting towards widescreen, so there is no plan to release a standard screen T61. I honestly don't know what to believe. Maybe they are just saying this to boost sale of their widescreen T61.

That happens every time I call them... it upsets me that Lenovo has such a different market in its head. Garrr.

hulao2 wrote:I am torn between getting the widescreen T61 now or waiting indefinitely for a standard T61. This sucks!!!

Where is that T61p 14.1"?

I think i'll become a pirate.

GomJabbar wrote:I feel for you JDH.

You mirror my sentiments exactly (well except the part of Daddy having all the money - I have precious little of that!).

Sorry for the rant. It was the end of a long day, and the thought of getting a Vista laptop sometime soon that I will need a wheeled case to port about was not my idea of portability. Every single Z I have seen in the workplace here has a wheeled case as a home. Auditors like the wide screen for spreadsheets.

I do understand the appearance and value of widescreen.

However, I much, much lament the passing of the T23 form factor. It was the smallest T width and length, about an inch thick (same as the T4x series) and just a smidgen under 5 pounds. It was the best form factor ever provided for working briefcase portability complete with two spindles.

... JDH

LBTRS wrote:Seems it is already out...

T61 14" 4:3 sxga+

How did you discover that link?

The link works fine, but I can't seem to navigate to it from www.lenovo.com/us/ ?????

FWIW, I ordered a T61 4:3 standard screen (SXGA+) on 5/14 through my alumni (Ohio State) Lenovo personal pages (8895CTO). ESD is 8/16 but given the messed-up state of affairs at Lenovo at the moment, I doubt that I'll see it in the foreseeable future.

rockyp wrote:FWIW, I ordered a T61 4:3 standard screen (SXGA+) on 5/14 through my alumni (Ohio State) Lenovo personal pages (8895CTO). ESD is 8/16 but given the messed-up state of affairs at Lenovo at the moment, I doubt that I'll see it in the foreseeable future.

If it were a 15" 1600 x 1200 UXGA IPS screen like on the R50p computers I love, or like on the early T60ps, I'd grab one in a heartbeat!

You can still order 15" SXGA+ FlexView on T60 through the website or call the 1-800-# (which is really busy right now).

barrywohl wrote:

LBTRS wrote:Seems it is already out...

T61 14" 4:3 sxga+

How did you discover that link?

The link works fine, but I can't seem to navigate to it from www.lenovo.com/us/ ?????

It was posted on another forum.

jdhurst wrote:Nobody listens to workers anymore - just the school kids and gamers. I guess Daddy has all the money and doesn't know any better.

I hear you. I worry that widescreen will become standard through the belligerent me-too attitude of computer manufacturers, out of touch reviewers (who watches DVDs on a laptop anyway?) and lemming-like consumers. I was planning to update my T43 this year but I ain't buying a widescreen unit so unless Lenovo releases a 4:3 14" SXGA T61 (like my T43) I'll probably hunt around elsewhere.

At home and work where I need more screen area my computer is docked to a 21" monitor so the laptop widecreen is pointless anyway. Portability is the most important issue followed by a decent keyboard (I write for a living). Sadly Lenovo seems to be slipping on both those features.

pipspeak wrote: (who watches DVDs on a laptop anyway?)

Me. Usually on a 15" UXGA IPS screen. The 15.4" WUXGA non-IPS screen on my Z61p was a bit better for me and a bit worse for bride who lies in bed beside me and watches at a bit of an angle. The Z61p is gone.

15.4" WUXGA IPS would be great for me. But it won't happen.

LBTRS wrote:

hulao2 wrote: Where did you purchase yours? Cause Lenovo's website certainly doesn't offer the standard size now.

That is a link in my post, click on it...they seem to be selling it now.

How did you get to this link?? Can't find it on the lenovo page.

barrywohl wrote:

rockyp wrote:FWIW, I ordered a T61 4:3 standard screen (SXGA+) on 5/14 through my alumni (Ohio State) Lenovo personal pages (8895CTO). ESD is 8/16 but given the messed-up state of affairs at Lenovo at the moment, I doubt that I'll see it in the foreseeable future.

If it were a 15" 1600 x 1200 UXGA IPS screen like on the R50p computers I love, or like on the early T60ps, I'd grab one in a heartbeat!

There are a bunch of 15" UXGA IPS (1600x1200 flesview) T60p units for Cdn$1799 available. Fully loaded incl fireGL v5200, 100gb 7200rpm + T7200 + 1gb ram + bluetooth + fingerprint + 3-yr international warranty.

SkiBunny wrote: There are a bunch of 15" UXGA IPS (1600x1200 flesview) T60p units for Cdn$1799 available. Fully loaded incl fireGL v5200, 100gb 7200rpm + T7200 + 1gb ram + bluetooth + fingerprint + 3-yr international warranty.

Where in Canada?

I kinda hate the fact that I 'helped' the sales of the widescreen T series units. Don't get me wrong-it's a great screen-but it's just not as portable as a 14.1" 4:3 screen. If I find an exact match for the T60p WS I have now in a 4:3 model, then this thing is probably gone.

Lenovo-PLEASE continue to offer 4:3 screens!!

why the wide screen is less portable ?

danny_isr wrote:why the wide screen is less portable ?

Maybe 'portable' is not the word I should have used-jdhurst made a good point of what I was talking about in that they won't fit in our current cases that maybe we have always used. Plus, the extra weight and size makes them a bit 'unweildy' to carry around and hold.

I can see where some people have legitimate uses for widescreen, but for many of us a 4:3 screen is perfect. Whereas some people might be envious of those with the big, nice widescreens-I am now exactly the opposite!

well personally i'm not going to buy a new laptop if it fits my current case or not. in my case it's not an issue anyhow i got a backpack.
Weight wise , is 14" wide screen heavier then 14" 4:3 ? it shouldn't.

So what exactly the issue here ?
i actually think you get more useful real estate by be able (maybe) to put more things side by side. and yeah some times watch a movie .

i think the real issue here is , what you are used to. some people don't like changes ....

danny_isr wrote:well personally i'm not going to buy a new laptop if it fits my current case or not. in my case it's not an issue anyhow i got a backpack.
Weight wise , is 14" wide screen heavier then 14" 4:3 ? it shouldn't.

It shouldn't be larger, it shouldn't be heavier, but it seems it is. With 6-cell battery it certainly is.
And regarding the case... We all have our own limits of what we consider to be encumbrance.

danny_isr wrote: So what exactly the issue here ?
i actually think you get more useful real estate by be able (maybe) to put more things side by side. and yeah some times watch a movie .

i think the real issue here is , what you are used to. some people don't like changes ....

So, you feel that 1440x900 is superior to 1400x1050? There are many of us who need vertical resolution much more than horizontal. But I guess we are used to comfort and don't like to change that.